Gimme Some Sugar

The zany McCready clan is back in Harper’s tangled sixth Southern Eclectic romance (after A Few Pecans Short of a Pie), and they want to see Duffy McCready pair up with recent widow Lucy Bowman. Everyone takes advantage of Duffy’s willingness to help anyone who asks, and he’s feeling the need to set some boundaries. He’s also growing into his responsibilities with the family business, the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop. Lucy has moved back to Lake Sackett after years in Texas, planning to open a bakery and raise her son. She could do without the interference of her mother-in-law, Mamaw Evie, who uses small-town politics and old-fashioned guilt to get her way. Duffy had a crush on Lucy in high school but never told her because he didn’t want to lose her friendship; is this the best time for him to act on those long-hidden feelings, or the worst? The romance is packed with countless laughs and heartfelt moments, thanks to Mamaw Evie’s antics, Duffy’s ex-wife’s machinations, and the McCreadys’ plotting. This romance is classic Harper, oozing snark and Southern charm in every scene. While fans will welcome an update on the outlandish clan, newcomers will be bewildered and should begin the series at the beginning. (Apr.)